Rebuilding national unity

President David Granger came to power in Guyana by campaigning on a promise to deliver positive socio-economic change and a Government of national unity that would heal the country, create higher levels of inclusivity and bring ethnic harmony and cohesiveness.

Since his entrance in the PNCR back in 2010 at the primaries, Granger has been talking about the need to make Government and politics people centered. This no doubt motivated him, along with the blessings of the top brass of the PNC/R which was still being controlled by Robert Corbin, to form the coalition movement under APNU.

After six years in opposition, Granger has finally succeeded in becoming President despite the fact that a dark cloud is hovering over the legitimacy of his presidency because of claims by the PPP/C that the May 11 elections were rigged.

He continues to pay lip service to the notion and meaning of the formation of a Government of National Unity. Similarly, President Granger has over the past two weeks since being sworn in made a mockery of the concept of inclusionary democracy.

Granger knows there can be no inclusionary democracy or national unity achieved without the PPP/C. It is disappointing that he has not seen it fit to explain what he means when he invited the PPP/C to join the “unity train” and “work in unity for Guyana’s development”.

He should have exercised more seriousness and invited the PPP/C to form part of his cabinet, if he is really interested in creating a unified country. He should have initiated talks with former President Donald Ramotar about working together.

Granger should have also called on GECOM to conduct a forensic audit of the elections results given the complaints and accusations being made by the PPP/C, especially if he was certain about the fairness and accuracy of the results declared by GECOM.

He should have by this week sent a frank message to all Guyanese that his administration would not tolerate any form of covert or overt racism especially from his supporters. He has used all sorts of rhetoric to escape issuing outright condemnation to attitudes being displayed by some of his own supporters to supporters of the PPP/C who have been complaining about the verbal abuse and torment they are made to face daily.

Granger has to focus on building trust in the society by working with the PPP/C to temper the fears that East Indians in this country have about the PNCR.

He has announced a 26-member Cabinet of Ministers with an average age of 55.6 years and 1, 445 years altogether. There was no consultation, for the most part, with other coalition partners as to the outline of his government and who would be best suited to serve in what post.

He went ahead and created new, renamed and subsumed ministries without consultation with the public or civil society, creating a bureaucratic monstrosity and confusion amongst the populace.

No proper explanation is forthcoming for these ad hoc changes, but the public relations czars in his Government have been painting him as a leader promising to consult with the populace and all stakeholders before making major decisions.

President Granger appears to have a vision for creating unity in Guyana but he will shortchange himself over the next five years if he does not share that vision clearly with the populace so that they could understand it, critique it and improve it.

Over the next few months, the Granger government must consult with the people and must end this culture of high-handedness which is becoming evident, given the manner in which governance is being administered since May 11.

National unity and inclusivity means the period of campaigning is over and it is time for the Government to give life to all of the governance proposals they are articulated on the campaign trail, including meaningfully involving the PPP/C in their plans for Guyana.